Checkwriter



L. M. 1900. GHECKWRITER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27.1915- Patented July 1, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

zwanus M. Todd [NVLN TOR. BY my W 1111111 Baa- LM 2 zaqvfizzmmw.

HIS A TTORNE Y L. M. TODD.

CHECKWRITER.

APPLICATLON man SEPT-27.1915" Patented July 1, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

[lllgllv EN N LiI/anua M. Todd 11v VEN TOR WITNESSES THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

L. M. TODD.

CHECKWRITER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27. 191s.

Patented. July 1, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

likanua M. Todd [NVL'N TOR.

WITNESJQES:

'IHn COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co WAS-imam, D. c.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

LIBANUS M. TODD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TODD PROTECTOGRAPH COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CHECKWRITER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 1, 1919.

Application filed September 27. 1915. Serial No. 52.873.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, LIBANUS M. TODD, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Checkwriters; and I do hereby declare the. following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable any person skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the'same.

The present invention relates to printing apparatus, and more particularly to the class of printing machines known as check writers, which are designed for filling in the value or other legend of a check by an indelible form of impression, so that checks so inscribed will be protected against fraudulent alteration.

One object of the invention is the provision of a novel machine of this kind which is simple and compact in construction and convenient and rapid in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of this class of-a novel and convenient construction and arrangement of the type and type support, whereby the individual type formsmay be easily andquickly removed and replaced, for the purpose of substituting other printing; characters, or for cleaning or repair.

Otherobjects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front, or work receiving side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 5, with the type and other portions removed. I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4li of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, laterally of the machine on the line 66 of Fig. 5, showing parts of the paper feeding device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, laterally of the machine, on the line 7'7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the type bars and supporting means therefor.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the type The present embodiment of the invention comprises a casing having a lower, or base portion, (Fig. 2) and an upper portion, or housing, 16, these portions of the casing being separated through most of their extent by a horizontal work receiving slot 17, located above a supporting bed 18 on the base of the casing. In operation the work is inserted in the slot 17 at the front side of the machine and is fed through the slot across the bed 18 and out at the back of the machine.

Extending across the base of the casin below the printing bed is a rib 19 (Fig. 5? provided with an arcuate slot 20 in its upper side in which is supported a platen 21 having its impression surface substantially level with the top of the printing bed. The platen is adjustable laterally of the printing bed by means of screws 22 (Fig. 7 bearing against each of its ends, and is adjustable vertically by means of a pair of elevating screws 23 and a retracting screw 24.

The means for feeding the paper across the printing bed comprises a shaft 25 journaled at one end in the casing and at its other end in the rib 19, on either side of which is fixed to the shaft 25 a paper feeding wheel 26 extending through openings in the printing bed to engage and feed the paper when the shaft 25'is rotated. and the means for rotating shaft 25 will be described later on.

The side walls of the upper portion of the casing are provided with lugs 27 (Figs. 3 and 6) upon which are supported a pair of spaced parallel guide rails 28, connected at their ends by tie pieces 29 which hold the rails in their proper spaced relation. These rails form guiding means for a plurality of type bars 30 (Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 9) which are provided on each end with a groove 31 slidably engagingthe adjacent guide rail. Each type bar carries on its lower face a printing character 32, and the upper edge of the bar has extending upwardly at its ends a pair of guiding arms 33 and 34. vThe arm 34: is formed at its upper end with a head 35 extending inwardly and provided at thebottom with a contact'surface 36. The heads 35 of the different bars have their contact surfaces 36 at. varying vertical distances above the printing surfaces, proportional to the varying lengths of the corresponding type characters, for the purpose of eifeetmg a corresponding feeding movement of the paper, as will later appear. The type bars are carried on the guide rails in lateral contact with each other so that the printing characters extend in parallel spaced relation transversely of the printing bed and substantially in a column longitudinally of the machine, with the printing surfaces in a common horizontal plane.

The type carrier, or means for sliding the type bars together as a unit longitudinally of the guide rails to bring any desired printing character to the common printing position, comprises a pair of members 37 and 38 (Figs. l and 5), substantially of the same shape as the type bars and also having grooves slidably engaging the guide rails. These members engage the end type bars, thus holding all the bars in contact, and the members are themselves united by a pair of plates 39 and 40 each secured at its ends by screws ll to the members 37 and 38, and so spaced from each other as to closely engage the arms 33 and 3a of the type bars, forming guides between which the type bars may be reciprocated vertically. The plates 39 and 40 are provided along their upper edge with a series of teeth 42 forming part of a centering device to be later described, and the plate 39 is extended beyond the member 38 and provided with a handle 43 projecting exteriorly of the casing through a slot 4 T (Fig. 6) therein. By means of thishandle the type carrier may be moved longitudinally of its guides to bring the type characters, selectively, to the common print ing position at the center of the machine, as will now be explained.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the guide rails are each discontinued at the center of the machine, leaving an interval l5 substantially equal to the thickness of one of the type bars. The rails are securely connected with each other around this interval by means of members 46 secured to the adjacent rail ends and having downwardly projecting lugs carrying a pair of guide rollers 47 extending transversely of the printing bed in vertical alinement with the ends of the rails 28 at the intervals 45, and spaced from each other a distance equal to the thickness of one of the type bars. Fixed on each side wall of the casing, opposite the interval, is a pair of guides 48, forming between them a groove, or track, in which is vertically slidable a frame member, or slicer bar, 49. This member 4:9 is substantially of the shape of an inverted U, having its lower ends turned inwardly and so designed as to form continuations of the rails 28 vin the intervals 45, when the member 49 is at its normal elevation. WVith the member 49 in this normal position, the carrier may be moved to slide the type bars past the intervals 45, at which point the type bars are supported by their sliding engagement, successively and individually, with the ends 50 of the slicer bar &9. The carrier may therefore be brought to rest with any selected type bar in engagement with the slicer. bar, and it will be apparent that the latter member may then be reeiprocated vertically to carry the type bar downwardly between the guide rolls 4:7 into printing contact with the platen and then to return the type bar to its normal position in the carrier.

The means for reciprocating the member 49 comprises a pair of bearing rollers 51 engaging in recesses 52 in the sides of the member 49, and journaled at the ends of a pair of levers 53 each of which is pivoted on a stud 54 in the side wall of the casing. The levers 53 are extended beyond their pivots toward the end of the machine where each is provided with a cam roller 55, above a main operating shaft 56 journaled at its ends in the side walls of the casing. Fixed to the shaft 56 is a pair of cams 57 4 and 5), adapted during each rotation of the shaft 56 to raise and lower the contact ing rollers 55, thus oscillating the levers 53 and reciprocating the slicer bar -fl-9 and the type bar which is in engagement therewith. The levers 53 extend beyond the cam rollers and are provided at their ends with inwardly extending arms. To the casing of the machine are attached springs 58 (Figs. 4 and 5) for retracting levers 53 and hold ing their cam' rollers 55 in contact with the cams 57 with which they coiiperate. The printing surfaces of the type and of the platen are formed with corrugations which are adapted to register with each other during the printing contact to shred the paper so that it Will absorb the ink, as indicated in the case of the platen in Fig.3. This construction is fully disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 793249 granted June 27, 1905, to L. M. Todd and further description thereof will be unnecessary. The shaft 56 extends through the casing at the front side of the machine and is provided with a crank 59, to which is fixed ahandle 60, by means of which the shaft may be conveniently ro tated. This construction, employing a r0- tary opera-ting member, insures a uniform operation of the printing couple. Operators, as a rule, will move a rotary operating crank at a substantially uniform speed, a handle of this sort not being adapted to receive the sharp blows, or jerks, which are given to the plunger or reciprocating type of handle. This is an important feature in machines of this sort, as too sudden operation of the machine is apt to interfere with the operation of the feeding devices, causing imprope spacing of the words and thus subjecting theimpression to thedanger of alteration.

The means for indicating the position the type carrier comprises a plate 61 fixed to the member 37 and having an upwardly extending arm 62 projecting through a slot in the top of the casing and turned horizontally at 63 to form a pointer extending over a dial 64 on the top of the casing. This dial is provided with characters corresponding to those on the type bars and arranged in the inverse order of the latter. By means of the handle 43, pointer 63 may be moved up and down the column of characters on the dial and into registry with any desired character, thereby bringing the corresponding type forms selectively to printing position, in engagement with the slicer bar 49, so that a subsequent rotation of the crank will produce an impression of this character upon the paper.

The mechanism for actuating the feeding wheels 26, previously described, comprises a shaft 65 (Figs. 4 and 5) extending longitudinally of the machine and journaled at one end in the end of the casing and at its other end in the bearing 66 earned by a depending arm 67 of a bracket 68 secured to the wall of the casing. The shaft 65 has fixed thereto near the end of the casing two arms, 69 and 7 O. Pivoted t0 the arm 70 is a link 71 which is pivoted in turn to a yoke 72 rotatably carried by a sleeve 73 fixed to the shaft 25. Pivoted on the yoke 72 is a spring pressed pawl 74 engaging a ratchet wheel. 75 which is fixed to the sleeve 73. A spring detent 76 prevents the backward movement of the ratchet. Pawl 74 is normally held in engagement with a motion limiting pin 7 9 on the casing, by means of a spring 78 attached to the casing and to the arm 69 of shaft 65, and the contact of the pawl with this pin urges the pawl into looking engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent its overthrow. The other end of shaft 65 extends into the interval between the upstanding guide arms 33 and 34 of the type bars, being supported in this interval, without interference with the movement of the type, by the depending bracket arm 67. Fixed on this end of the shaft is an arm 77 in such position that its end is beneath the contact surface 36 of the particular type bar which is in printing position. Arm 77 is normally held in horizontal position by the action of spring 78, but as the selected type bar is reciprocated in printing position its contact surface 36 engages and depresses arm 77, a greater or less distance in accordance with the height of the particular contact surface 36, corresponding to the length of the associated type form. The longer the type form, the lower the position of the contact surface, and the greater the motion imparted to arm 77. Shaft 65 is thus rocked to a variable extent at each printing operation, moving the pawl 74 backward over a varying number of teeth, and the rev turn movement of the pawl under the action of spring 78, turns the shaft 25 and the feed wheels 26. The paper is thus fed a distance corresponding to the length of the type form impressed.

The means for holding the paper in contact with the feed wheels 26, and against inadvertent movement on the printing bed, comprises a pair of pressure rollers 80, one in contact with each of the wheels 26. These rollers are journaled at the ends of a bail-shaped member 81, journaled at 82 in the arms of a bracket 83, fixed to the wall of the upper portion of the casing. One of the trunnions of the member 81 is fixed to a spindle 84 journaled at its other end in the casing (Figs. 3 and 7). The spindle 84 carries an arm 85 having a pin which extends into a groove 86 in a sliding spindle 87 arranged transversely of the machine. This spindle 87 is slidably carried at one end in the side wall of the casing, and at its other end in a lug 88 and extendsexteriorly of the casing, where it is provided with a finger piece 89. A spring 90, engaging the lug 88 and the finger piece 89, serves to hold the spindle 87 in its extreme outer position, and the rolls 8O pressing upon the rolls 26. By pressing upon the finger piece 89 the rollers may be raised to permit the insertion or removal of the check.

The means for centering the types accurately in printing position comprises a pair of levers 91 provided with pointed ends adapted to engage the beveled recesses, or teeth, 42, formed in the upper edges of the plates 39 and 40, and thus to draw the carrier into position to precisely center the type form and to lock the carrier during the printing operation. Each lever 91 is pivoted on the stud 54, and carries at its other end a cam roller 92, held in contact with the surface of a cam 93 fixed to the shaft 56. A spring 94 (Fig. 5), fixed to the casing and to a depending arm of each lever 91, serves to hold the roller in engagement with the cam. During each rotation of the operating crank 60 this centering device accurately positions and locks the type carrier before the commencement of the printing movement of the type forms. After the type form is returned to the carrier, the centering device releases the latter so that it may be moved to select the next character to be impressed.

The means for inking the types comprises a duplicate set of inking rolls located in either half of the path of movement of the type carrier, so that a type form will be inked when moved into printing position from either direction. As these sets of inking rolls are alike, a description of one will be sufiicient. The rolls of each set, designated by the numerals 95 and 96, have their spindles supported on a curved bearing S111? face 97 formed in each side wall of a conta-iner 9S. Journaled in this container is a spindle 99 extending exteriorly thereof on either side and carrying on its ends a bail-shaped member 100 the ends 101 of which are urged by spring 102, fixed to an arm 103 of the bail and to the container, into contact with the spindle of the roll 96. This roll is thus pressed into contact with the roll 95 and the latter is forced up the curved end of the bearing surface 97, and thereby raised in position to contact in rolling engagement with the printing surfaces of the types as the latter are moved longitudinally of the casing. The rolls 95 are thus held in yielding contact with the type forms, and as both rolls of each set are formed of absorbent material so as to receive a supply of ink, adequate provision is made for keeping the type surfaces well inked. The container 98 is provided at either side with spaced fingers slidably engaging supporting plates 104C and 105 carried by studs fixed in the under sides of the guide rails. The rear side of the casing opposite each container 98 is provided with an opening of sufiicient size to permit the container to be slid along its supporting plates and removed from the casing. Fixed to each container, in spaced relation therewith, is a plate 107 for closing the opening 106. This plate carries a small handle 108 and is provided with springs 109 adapted to hold the container and its ink rolls yieldably in position.

Means are provided for the convenient re moval of any of the individual type bars, so that they may be replaced by other bars having different printing characters, or else removed for cleaning or repairs. This means comprises a pair of openings 110 in each guide rail located on opposite sides of the printing intervals 4C5. Refer-ring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the plates 105 supporting the inking roll container, have an extension 111 projecting in position to contact with the surfaces of the type bars at the ends of the printing characters. Each extension 111 is located vertically below one of the openings 110 in the guide rails so that as the type bars are moved into registry with the openings 110 they are supported by the extension 111 and there is no interference with the sliding movement of the type bars and carrier. But if it is desired to remove any one of the type bars it is only necessary to move the type carrier so as to bring that type bar into registry with one of the openings 110, when the type bar may be lifted out of the carrier and removed from the machine. The casing is provided with a removable top 112 for this purpose, and generally to afford access to the mechanism of the-machine.

For assisting in the location of the check in printing position on the" supporting bed, there is provided onthe front side'of' the casing opposite the printing position and above the work receiving slot a leaf 113 having a sight opening 114. The check is placed with its left end over the platen so that the line of the check upon which it is desired to print is visible through the opening 114 whichthus serves as a guide for the location of the work.

In the operation of the'machine the linger piece 89 is pressed to raise the pressure rolls, and a check is located on the printing bed with thespace to be printed under the sight opening 114. The pressure rolls are then re leased, and the pointer 63 is brought into registry, by means of handle 43, with the first character to be impressed, preferably the line of stars. A complete rotation of the operating crank 60 first centers and locks the type in printing position, then reciprocates the type to impress the paper, feeds the latter the proper distance, and finally unlocks the type for the next operation. The amount is then written out in words, successively impressed, by bringing the pointer successively opposite the corresponding figures on the dial 6ft and operating the crank 60. The impression completed, the finger piece89 is depressed and the check removed.

There is thus provided a complete and eflicient check printing machine of a simple construction permitting a compact and convenient arrangement of the parts. The length of the work receiving slot permits the printing of a check, or other commercial paper, of almost any size, and the paper may be easily inserted and removed from the machine. The construction by means of which the types may be individually removed from the machine allows of a quick and economical repair of the same and also of the substitution of different type characters when desired, corresponding changes being made in the dial. For the selection of the type characters there is provided a stationary dial each character of which is always visible, and the selective movement of the types is accomplished by a straight line motion of the handle, which features afford the maximum of convenience and rapidity of operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a check protecting machine, a casing having a work receiving slot therein and asupporting bed below the slot; a type carrier in the casing above the slot, provided with a plurality of separate type forms for printing words of varying lengths; means for applying ink to the printing surfaces of the type forms; a platen below the slot; a device for moving the type forms, individually, into printing contact with the platen, said carrier beingmovabl'e to br-ing'said forms,

selectively, into position for movement by said device; and means actuated by the individual type forms for feeding the Work vari able distances corresponding to the lengths of the words printed.

12. In a check protecting machine, a casing provided with a work receiving slot and a supporting bed therebelow, guide means in the casing above the slot; a type carrier slidable on said guide means transversely of the printing line to bring a plurality of types, selectively, to printing position; a platen common to said types and located below said slot; means for moving said types and platen relatively into printing contact; and means for feeding the workbetween the printing impressions variable distances corresponding to the lengths of the types selected.

3. In a check protecting machine, a casing provided with a work receiving slot and a supporting bed therebelow; a type carrier in the casing above the slot provided with a plurality of types arranged substantially in a common plane and adapted for printing words expressing a monetary value, said carrier having a movement of translation to bring said types, selectively, to printing position; means for applying ink to said-types; a platen below said slot; means for effecting a relative printing movement between said types and platen; and means for feeding the work, intermittently, ariable distances cor .responding in extent to the lengths of the types selected.

a. In a check protecting machine, a casing having a work receiving slot and a supporting bed therebelow; a type carrier in said casing above the slot, provided with a plurality of type forms arranged substantially in a column, said carrier being slidable longitudinally of said column to bring the'type forms, selectively, to printing position; a. relatively movable dial and pointer for selecting the type forms for printing; means for applying ink to said type forms; a platen common to said type forms below said slot; means for effecting a relative printing movement of Copies of this patent may be obtained for 6. In a'machine of the class described, a

group of movable members each carrying type to print a Word, the lengths of the Words varying, a platen, an invariably moved type member operating element constructed to move the type members one at a timeboth toward and away from the platen, means for selectively engaging the type members with the operating element, and means actuated by the engaged type member for feeding the work a distance corresponding to the length of the word on said member.

7. In a machine of the class described, a group of collectively and relatively movable members, each carrying type to print a word,

the lengths of the words varying, a platen,

an invariably moved element constructed to receive and move a single type carrying member both toward and away from the platen, means for collectively moving the type carrying members to selectively insert the members into the operating element, and means actuated by said inserted member for feeding the work a distance corresponding to the length of the word on said member.

8. In a machine of the class described, a group of collectively and relatively movable members each carrying type to print a word,

the lengths of the words varying; a platenp an invariably moved element constructed to receive and move a single type carrying member positively both toward and away from the platen; manipulative means for collectively moving the type carrying members to selectively insert the members into the operating element and devices controlled by=said type carrying members for feeding the work different distances.

9. In a machine of the class described, a group of collectively and relatively movable members each carrying type to print a word, the lengths of the words varying; a platen; an invariably moved operating element constructed to receive and move a single type carrying member positively both toward and away from the platen; manipulative means for elfecting collective movement of the type carrying members whereby to select the member to be actuated by the operating element and means controlled by the type carrying members collectively for variably feeding work.

LIBANUS M. TODD. WVitnesses MAGNUS H. J orIANsoN, CHARLES G. TIEFEL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. V 

